Misty_Que

We are a group of 16 adults and thinking about booking a day pass at the Sonesta Ocean Point Resort on Maho Beach. Can anyone recommend a company for transportation to and from the cruise dock?  I know we can walk off and get taxi's but I prefer to arrange everything before we leave and I think that would be a better option for a group this size. 

Can anyone recommend an excellent small group catamaran/yacht tour that offers day trips for snorkelling and beaches on St. John? Looking for something comparable to Silver Moon Catamaran in Barbados if anyone has ever been. Prefer one that offers open bar and lunch provided. Please give me any and all recommendations.

Thanks. U by Uniworld does not include any transfers and they are quite pricey to reserve through them; which is why I am looking for alternative options. I will check out the website.

When I looked on a mapped it out, it looked as though it was a short 10 minute walk from the train station in Amsterdam to the river cruise port. Is this correct?

Two questions that you need to answer first:

What line are you sailing? Viking docks in Le Pecq not in Paris proper. Most other lines dock near the Eiffel Tower.

Where are you heading from the Paris train station? Paris has many train stations. The direction of your travel will determine which station you need. (If you use loco2.com and put Paris (any station) as your departure point with your endpoint it will tell you what station you would be departing from.)

Also, note that docking areas are not comparable to ocean cruise ship ports.

Yes I should have been more clear. We are cruising on U by Uniworld so I assume they dock where Uniworld docks? After the Paris cruise we are taking the Thalys train to Amsterdam where we will catch the Rhine cruise again on U and ends in Frankfurt.

We are going on our first river cruise and looking for recommendations for transfers. Do you recommend taxi? Private or shared shuttle? Was hoping to find a cheaper option as it is quite expensive through the cruise line.

Will be needing the following as we are doing two cruises back to back:

• CDG Airport in Paris to the river cruise port
  
• Paris river cruise port to the train station
  
• Frankfurt river cruise port to the airport
  

We are docking in Montego Bay and would like to spend the day at a resort. We don't have kids but thinking a resort with a water slides and/or lazy river that adults could use would be fun. Does this exist and can adults use any of these facilities offered on the Resort for a day website? If so which resort do you recommend?

Great thank you!

Thanks everyone. Hampton Inn Brickell it is!

We are looking to spend the day at the beach during our stop in January. What are your recommendations? Best way to get there?

I see the Hampton Inn Miami recommended a lot here but just wondering one it is as there are a few? Would it be the Brickell location? Looking for a hotel that will have a good selection of restaurants within walking distance and somewhere to by wine/alcohol.

How is the Courtyard Miami Downtown/Brickell? Which is the better choice?

Don't get caught up with the shuttle. In the end you pay for it in the cost of the Hotel.

 

This is a list of hotels downtown at a range of prices.

 

Also, you can take Uber or Lyft and pay even less then a taxi.

 

Keith

 

Thank you for that list. This really helps!

Can anyone recommend a nice pre-cruise hotel for one night that has an airport shuttle? Prefer to be near the downtown/Bayside are so we are within walking distance to restaurants if possible.

If you haven't already, you will have to reprint your Set Sail pass too.

Yes it told me to do so once I changed. Done and done...Thanks!

Hey Michelle, not sure when you are leaving but you can set your account to a cash account in the online check in portion of the website. Like everyone said, easy to do through the casino then attach a credit card to your account after you have removed your OBC.

Oh really? I have already done my online check in and set sail pass but I will go in and see if I can change it. Thanks!

And done! I was able to change to a cash account. Thank you so much :)

It will be easy to remember as they will ask you for your credit card to swipe.

Oh great, thank you.

I guess it depends on how much OBC you have. It's easy to do.

 

At the port just tell them you are changing it to a cash account. You can charge up to $500 over whatever OBC you have before being asked to pay any money down.

 

I usually set the account as cash. Withdraw up to $500 per day in the casino and then a day or two before the end of the cruise go to guest services and provide my credit card to avoid standing in line the last day to settle my account.

Thank you! I think that is what we will do to at least save the 5% fees. Now I just hope I remember to change it at the port!

You should have a choice between getting chips for the tables or a voucher for the slots. Get the voucher for the slots. Insert the voucher into any slot machine then hit the cash out button, you don't even have to play. This will give you a pay voucher that you can redeem for cash at the casino cashier or the automated redemption machines.

Great thank you for the tip! Currently we are set up with a credit card account. Should I change this to a cash account when we arrive at the port to save ourselves 5%? We have never used a cash account so not sure how it works. But we won't be spending much on the ship as DH has the beverage package and we have already reserved and paid for speciality dining packages.

Does what you've read apply to passengers with cash accounts not being able to get cash from Guest Services, or are you speaking solely about casino withdrawals?

I have never used Guest Services to take out cash so not sure how that works. But I see someone already answered the question.

Thanks everyone for the help!

Hi Everyone, I have been following this thread for a while and it's where I learned that I could take out my obc through the casino as cash, which was great on our last trip.

We are now going on Anthem and have $500 obc. With the terrible exchange rate, we were counting on this money to help pay for our excursions (non RC excursions) and spending money. But I just read you can only get a casino voucher now and no cash on Anthem. Is there any way around this or another way people have learned to take out the cash?

I am travelling with a group of 12 and we are booked at Beach Limerz for the day. But we have to get there and back on our own. What is the best way? Are taxi's safe to take? Any recommendations?

I have never just walked off the ship and had to grab a cab before as I normally book private excursions that pick us up right at the dock.

Has anyone recently stayed at the Novotel Times Square hotel recently? I got a great rate there for our group and the reviews seem good. Just looking for personal experience. Thanks!

Please post after you return. I know everyone will have a fabulous time.

Thanks, will do!

DH and I don't mind paying the price for good food so we will most likely head to Gallagher's one evening on our own. The rest of the group I think will prefer cheaper eats but I'm sure we will have no problem finding something. I can go to Olive Garden at home. I will not go in NYC! Plus Italian is off the list. And I LOVE Italian[emoji17]

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Gallaghers has the best bar and the best bartenders in the area we also stay in this area ( at the Michelangelo)

Thanks! I would love to stay at the Michelangelo but for this trip it was out of our price range....especially when travelling with a group. I got a fantastic deal at the Novotel that couldn't be beat so hopefully it is a nice place. It has some great reviews so I am sure it will suit us just fine.

We have used them in them past and will be using them again in January. They were on time and got us from point A to point B with no issues.

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one note about a 2 of the places we mentioned, 2 years ago we were at Joe Allen late on a Sunday night with a large group only other person/group in there was Joan Rivers who was at next table but we maid too much noise so her group went to another section. Also have seen lots of famous people in Gallaghers over the years

Wow, thanks! Gallagher's is actually right behind the hotel we are staying at.